Former Scranton school official faces jail for sexting

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) — A former school official accused of sending explicit text messages to boys has pleaded guilty in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Former Scranton school director Mark Kandel pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to online enticement of a minor. As part of a plea agreement signed earlier this month, he's expected to serve 13 to 19 years in prison when sentenced in September.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Olshefski says prosecutors have evidence the 53-year-old Kandel sent more than 13,000 messages to 17 boys and that most of them were sexual in nature. She says he also hosted them at his home for pool parties, where he provided them with alcohol and underwear he asked them to model.

Kandel's attorney, Frank Santomauro, says his client accepted the agreement because prosecutors agreed to drop four other charges of online enticement of minors.